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Opinion on Gas Grills

Rou23

New member
So, I have recently bought a gas grill, which my friends didn't approve of, so we had a small debate on the topic of gas vs other grills while having fine cold beers.
I thought I could share our thoughts with you. so here it is.
(the following content represents my own opinion, and it is not meant to offend anyone, etc. I will include source links, cause I used a lot of info from the web)

Each type of grill offer’s its own unique benefits.
Most gas grills use liquid propane gas from a tank that’s hooked right up to the grill. (However, it’s possible to connect some grills to the same fuel tank that powers your kitchen range or even to a gas line that runs to your house.) The beauty of a gas grill is that it’s easy to “light” and only takes about 10 minutes until it’s hot enough for you to throw on some burgers. And when you’re finished, you simply turn off the gas — you don’t have to wait for the coals to die down and then carefully dispose of them.

Cooking with charcoal imparts that classic charbroiled, smoky taste into food that gives barbecued meats their unforgettable flavor. However, that taste comes with a drawback – since charcoal emits smoke, it also imparts carcinogenic compounds into the food and the air. Cooking with charcoal requires adequate space. It creates immense heat and produces a lot of smoke, which can cause trouble if you are grilling near a multi-family dwelling or other people.

Unlike gas or charcoal grills, electric grills only require an outlet to work. You plug them into the wall or an extension cord and they heat up in minutes.
You can buy electric grills in a variety of sizes, from a personal-sized, serving-for-one countertop grill to a large outdoor setup ideal for parties and get-togethers.
However, it’s important to remember that electric grills may not create the same traditional smoky flavor you enjoy from charcoal and gas-powered machines. They do not impart a charbroiled taste, which may impact their appeal for some audiences.

There are several different characteristics that you might want to keep in the back of your mind when you are looking for your new grill. While these features are not essentials, they will certainly make your grilling life a lot easier. Tool hooks and wheels are a great option, for instance. The tool hooks will allow you to put down your grilling gear when you aren’t using it, and wheels will make the appliance much more portable.

Share your opinions on pros and cons, I'd really like to hear from you!

cheers,
R.

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Sources:
 

GA1dad

New member
Grills/Smokers are like screwdrivers,,, each have their own perfect application. For me, gas grills get used during the week after work when time is limited. I just did some center cut chops on a gasser last night.
 

tvr

Member
I've got my Big Green Egg on a cart that rolls out of the garage to the driveway. For a small load of charcoal for a quick dinner grilling, it takes about 15 minutes to fire up and get up to temperature. When I'm done grilling, I can close off the air and put the lid down and roll it back in. It is still pretty warm to the touch on the outside, but not hot enough to light anything else up; self contained, so no sparks and with no air, it extinguishes itself and cools. I used to have gas grills but once I got the Egg, over 20 years ago, I got rid of the gas grills. I use a high output gas burner for steaming crabs and for the turkey fryer (same burner); but not for grilling. With the Egg, I can also bake and of course smoke things. Every now and then it gets a big load of fuel and gets a long 650 to 700 degree burn out to clean up the deposits.

When I'm smoking, I have a couple of neighbors who come over to see what is being smoked. Have not had any complaints, but If I do, then they can stay on their own property and off mine.

I do like the idea of the Blackstone griddle and may add one, but I've got a gas range in the kitchen and a good variety of cast iron pans that substitute well for griddle tops.

As for the carcinogens ... seems that if you look at enough studies, nearly everything can be labeled a possible carcinogen, including the fine cold beers you talk of. I'll die of something at sometime, and I will enjoy what I can as long as I can until I get there; including grilling and smoking food and enjoying serving and eating them.
Cheers,
tvr
 

Rou23

New member
At this grill review, for example, grillguru website says it's much faster and convenient to grill on an electric grill. But I strongly disagree! Howcome can an electric grill be better than gas or charcoal? Nonsense
 
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chrisjr9

New member
My Big Green Egg is mounted on a cart that slides out of the garage and into the driveway. It takes approximately 15 minutes to fire up and come up to temperature for a modest load of charcoal for a quick supper grilling. I can seal off the air, put the cover down, then roll it back in when I'm done grilling. It's still warm to the touch on the exterior, but not hot enough to fire anything else; it's self-contained, so there are no sparks, and it extinguishes and cools without air. I used to have gas grills, but I got rid of them when I acquired the Egg over 20 years ago. For boiling crabs and the turkey fryer (same burner), but not for grilling, I use a high-output gas burner.
I can also bake and, of course, smoke things with the Egg. It receives a huge load of fuel every now and again, and it gets a long 650 to 700 degree burn out to clear off the deposits.

When I'm smoking, a couple of my neighbours come over to see what I'm smoking. I haven't had any complaints, but if I do, they are free to remain on their own land and away from mine.

I like the idea of a Blackstone griddle and may purchase one, but I already have a gas stove and a variety of cast iron pans that work well as griddle tops.
In terms of carcinogens, it appears that if you look at enough research, almost everything may be classified as a potential carcinogen, even the nice cold beers you mention. I'll die of something at some point, and until then, I'll enjoy what I can while I can, which includes grilling and smoking food and serving and eating it.
 
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irondoorsaloon

New member
The German kitchen knife is an excellent choice because it has all-purpose functionality while still being sharp enough for slicing tasks like meat and bread. Read on for more information about these knives and why you should invest in them if you like cooking or need something new for your home.
 

tvr

Member
I'm a fan of gas grill before but recently I'm loving the smoky taste of meats when using charcoal on bbq grills.

If you like the smokey taste of charcoal, try a smoker and learn to use it. A little more work, but well worth the effort as you and others taste the rewards.
We recently had a houseful of family. I picked up four roasting chickens on sale at $1.09 a pound. Rubbed the skin and insides with a simple rub of salt, pepper, garlic powder and smoked paprika. Stood them up on half filled beer cans and smoked with apple wood. Very tasty.
 
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Tammara Pearse

New member
The choice between gas, charcoal, and electric grills comes down to personal preference and the cooking you want to do. Consider factors such as cooking time, ease of use, flavor, and portability before deciding.
See the features I depicted of each type of grill:
Gas Grills: Pros:

  • Quick and easy to start
  • Can be connected to a gas line or propane tank
  • Convenient to turn off after use Cons:
  • May not impart the same smoky flavor as charcoal or wood
Charcoal Grills: Pros:

  • Imparts a classic smoky flavor to the food
  • Affordable Cons:
  • Takes longer to heat up compared to gas grills
  • Generates smoke which can cause trouble in densely populated areas
  • Disposing of the ashes can be messy and time-consuming
Electric Grills: Pros:

  • Easy to use and requires only an electrical outlet
  • Wide range of sizes available Cons:
  • May not create the traditional smoky flavor
  • Limited by the location of electrical outlets
 
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